Thermal management and venting systems for traction battery packs

Abstract

Thermal management and venting systems are provided for traction battery packs. An exemplary thermal management and venting system may include a vent manifold and a main coolant passage extending through the vent manifold. The vent manifold may be configured to expel a battery vent byproduct from the traction battery pack during a battery thermal event, and the main coolant passage may be configured to communicate a coolant for thermally managing a battery array of the traction battery pack. A heat exchanger of the thermal management and venting system may be configured to facilitate heat transfer between the battery vent byproduct and the coolant prior to expelling the battery vent byproduct from the traction battery pack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A traction battery pack, comprising:
 a first battery array;   a second battery array;   a channel extending between the first battery array and the second battery array;   a vent manifold positioned within the channel; and   a main coolant passage extending through the vent manifold.   
     
     
         2 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first battery array is part of a first row of battery arrays, and the second battery array is part of a second row of battery arrays. 
     
     
         3 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a first runner that fluidly connects the first battery array to the vent manifold, and a second runner that fluidly connects the second battery array to the vent manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 3 , comprising a first a check valve disposed within the first runner, and a second check valve disposed within the second runner. 
     
     
         5 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vent manifold and the main coolant passage are concentrically arranged within the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a first secondary coolant passage and a second secondary coolant passage fluidly connected to the main coolant passage. 
     
     
         7 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the first secondary coolant passage extends between the first battery array and a third battery array, and the second secondary coolant passage extends between the first battery array and a fourth battery array. 
     
     
         8 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vent manifold is configured to expel a battery vent byproduct from the traction battery pack during a battery thermal event, and the main coolant passage is configured to communicate a coolant for thermally managing the first battery array and the second battery array. 
     
     
         9 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 8 , comprising a heat exchanger that is fluidly connected to the vent manifold and the main coolant passage. 
     
     
         10 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool the battery vent byproduct with the coolant prior to discharging the battery vent byproduct from the traction battery pack. 
     
     
         11 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first fluid communicated inside the main coolant passage is fluidly isolated from a second fluid communicated inside the vent manifold. 
     
     
         12 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first battery array or the second battery array is positioned adjacent to a heat exchanger plate. 
     
     
         13 . A traction battery pack, comprising:
 a first row of battery arrays;   a second row of battery arrays;   a vent manifold extending between the first row of battery arrays and the second row of battery arrays and configured to communicate a battery vent byproduct;   a main coolant passage configured to communicate a coolant; and   a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the vent manifold and the main coolant passage and configured to facilitate a heat transfer between the battery vent byproduct and the coolant.   
     
     
         14 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger is disposed inside an enclosure assembly of the traction battery pack. 
     
     
         15 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger is disposed outside of an enclosure assembly of the traction battery pack. 
     
     
         16 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to facilitate the heat transfer prior to discharging the battery vent byproduct from the traction battery pack. 
     
     
         17 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool the battery vent byproduct with the coolant prior to discharging the battery vent byproduct from the traction battery pack. 
     
     
         18 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the vent manifold and the main coolant passage are concentrically arranged within a channel that extends between the first row of battery arrays and the second row of battery arrays. 
     
     
         19 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 13 , comprising a first runner that fluidly connects a first battery array of the first row of battery arrays to the vent manifold, and a second runner that fluidly connects a second battery array of the second row of battery arrays to the vent manifold. 
     
     
         20 . The traction battery pack as recited in  claim 13 , comprising a first secondary coolant passage and a second secondary coolant passage fluidly connected to the main coolant passage, wherein the first secondary coolant passage extends between a first battery array and a second battery array of the first row of battery arrays, and the second secondary coolant passage extends between a third battery array and a fourth battery array of the second row of battery arrays.